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Does being a Jerk help you as a fighter?

1K views 18 replies 14 participants last post by  dutch sauce 
#1 ·
I was just thinking about this. Does being a jerk give your some sort of edge over a more plesent fighter. I know it dosnt make you better than everyone else (GSP vs Matt would be an example). But could it give you a mental edge over some fighters? Is there anyway to truly tell
 
#2 ·
i think it only affects the weak...im sure wandys staredowns alter his opponents mindset from time to time...but after he kills someone, hes all smiles...another example would be fedor vs. ogawa...ogawa thought he was sick being all cocky, but fedor wasnt fazed and sub'd his big arse...and it also brings the viewers/fans into it emotionally..just my opinion...
 
#3 ·
Being a jerk is likely to give you extra confidence and agression, which might help. But there are plenty of fighters out there who aren't jerks at all, including Fedor and Geogre "Can I say something else, please, Mr. Rogan" St. Pierre.
 
#4 ·
Choke_Wire said:
I was just thinking about this. Does being a jerk give your some sort of edge over a more plesent fighter. I know it dosnt make you better than everyone else (GSP vs Matt would be an example). But could it give you a mental edge over some fighters? Is there anyway to truly tell
i believe some fighters act this way thinking it will make them more marketable. but the fact they are missing is being an asshole is not being full of charisma. ie. floyd mayweather jr. a jerk, and could not put up ppv numbers like prince naseem did in his day, the prince was an asshole too, but he had the ability to sell his charismatic character was the selling point, people paid to see him lose. but it did get him paid.

i believe the money pushes the mentality, everyone love a grudge match, everyone love good vs evil....
 
#6 ·
DrVanNostrand said:
i guess the real question would be who can sell more and accumulate more fans? the nice guy, lovable type or the type of fighter that you just really love to hate?
does not matter if nice or the bad guy.... charisma is charisma. if you got it you got it.
the reason i am used boxing is, it has been publiclly excepted longer than mma has.
 
#7 ·
Choke_Wire said:
I was just thinking about this. Does being a jerk give your some sort of edge over a more plesent fighter. I know it dosnt make you better than everyone else (GSP vs Matt would be an example). But could it give you a mental edge over some fighters? Is there anyway to truly tell
Ask Tito...LOL...just kidding Tito fans
 
#8 ·
Being a jerk can help you with the fans (Tito). But being a nice guy can too, I love guys like Bas, Fedor, Couture, and Anderson Silva all because they are nice guys and don't talk trash. The first interview I saw with Anderson was when he said, "I'm gonna throw some punches, hes gonna throw some punches, and I'm gonna knock him out" then he smiled; and it was all after Leben was talking all kinds of trash. Right away I was just like I like this guy.
 
#9 ·
CashKola said:
Being a jerk can help you with the fans (Tito). But being a nice guy can too, I love guys like Bas, Fedor, Couture, and Anderson Silva all because they are nice guys and don't talk trash. The first interview I saw with Anderson was when he said, "I'm gonna throw some punches, hes gonna throw some punches, and I'm gonna knock him out" then he smiled; and it was all after Leben was talking all kinds of trash. Right away I was just like I like this guy.
that is what i am saying leben does not have charisma, he has a big mouth trying to draw fans, he is just trying to get paid.
tito on the other hand has charisma
 
#11 ·
I think if you look at Matt Hughes, his particular kind of being a jerk is connected to his being a great fighter. As Matt Serra put it, he is a 'jock snob'- he cannot tolerate anything less than incredibly physical performance and commitment. And he is wildly competitive, which probably gives him some of that drive, but also means that he has to be constantly getting in to people's heads.
 
#12 ·
I think it depends on the fighter. some will thrive on such confidence, while some will get overconfident in there abilities and fight stupidly. so what im saying is...confidence is good, as long it dosn't blind you to your own weakness
 
#13 ·
JawShattera said:
cash kola anderson has talked his share of trash when he wasnt in the ufc.......and leben is leben, he'll say that kind of stuff.
He didn't seem like that kind of guy. I have only seen his fights in Pride, not any interviews before he came to the UFC. From what I have seen he is a really laid back, nice guy. I usually don't like when people talk trash, charisma or not.
 
#16 ·
I think sometimes a fighter's trash talking etc., is as much about their own fears. I think fighters who have absolute self-awareness about their own conditioning, skills, training and that of their opponents, are less inclined to trash talk or be negative.
 
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